Jon Hopkins has always been a bit of a journeyman in the music world. The British producer got his first gig as the keyboardist for Imogen Heap’s backing band, and has built up quite a resume from there. He collaborated often with prolific producer Brian Eno, which led to production work with him on Coldplay’s… Continue reading Jon Hopkins | Immunity | New Music Review
It’s all too easy and lazy to be dismissive of cultural phenomenon especially when they become ubiquitous. For all I know Daft Punk might be my favorite band, but the fact that they’re referenced 500 times a day in my Twitter feed makes the likelihood of me ever listening to them extremely low. Also, when… Continue reading The Silent Comedy | Webster Hall | NYC | 6/12/13 | Review
The Dank Train made a stop in Chattanooga, Tenn. on Wednesday, June 12 tearing up the local venue Rhythm and Brews.Hanging with the band before the show, an employee at Rhythm and Brews keeps hassling the Athens, Ga. band, Dank Sinatra, on their performance later that night. A homegrown local, the employee claims that with… Continue reading Dank Sinatra | Rhythm & Brews | Chattanooga, TN | Review
Ryan Bingham has a musical style beyond his years. Without looking, you’d think a weathered, country veteran was on stage strumming that guitar, with his gruff voice and the hard life he sings about. Much to the contrary, he is a young, incredibly sexy musician. Bingham is not only a skilled lyricist with a voice made… Continue reading Ryan Bingham | Chautauqua Theater | Boulder, CO | Review
Shades of raw Buzzcocks in spirit and this distinguishable brand of Interpol-Strokes scenester amalgam in recurring riffs—adjusting their own description to account for the requisite self-romanticizing inherent in any young new band’s internal visions of their portrait—that’s Bad Cop more or less.The trio’s debut E.P. is grinded-down polish. Anarchy on synthetic drugs. High-gloss Stratocaster punk… Continue reading Bad Cop | Light on | New Music Review
Maybe I’ve grown jaded and all, but lately the gimmicks and ploys and artificial soul spewing from some of these up-and-comers in the ‘industry’ (loose interpretation) have been dancing on nothing short of exhausting. Too much self-awareness, far too little genuine appreciation for the necessary steps on the ladder to iconic reverence. Folks wanna be… Continue reading JJ Grey & Mofro | This River | New Music Review
It means “My Country”—Mon Pays, that is—to the native Malian, Vieux Farka Toure. According to the guitar virtuoso, the album is a tribute to his home, produced during a period of ethnic and religious strife that has brought unrest to the landlocked West African nation. The hope and zeal behind these songs is tangible.Mon Pays… Continue reading Vieux Farka Toure | Mon Pays | New Music Review
One obvious advantage to living in New York City is how spoiled we are musically. Every major musical act plays shows here, small acts you might not get the chance to see elsewhere, week long residencies, combinations of musicians you won’t ever see play together again. The sheer amount of great music any given night… Continue reading Kenny Endo & Hiromitsu Agatsuma | Japan Society | NY, NY | Review
Rage. Rest. Repeat. This was the motto printed on flyers around Boulder promoting Umphrey’s McGee upcoming Red Rocks show, and it was the one the band adhered to faithfully on Friday night. Mixing in a high-energy varied set list with their unique, dynamic musicianship, Umphrey’s proved why they are one of the best live bands,… Continue reading Umphrey's Brings The Thunder to Red Rocks
The Silent Comedy is no laughing matter. Set to release the six-track EP Friends Divide on June 10th, The Silent Comedy has been fermenting nicely in San Diego’s local bar scene. Their previous album Common Faults sold over 14,000 copies. They have been accumulating a cult-like following, impart due to their ruckus live performances which… Continue reading The Silent Comedy | Friends Divide | Review
